Mirrors in Architecture: Possibility of Reflecting Space

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As early as 600 BC, humans began to use mirrors, using highly polished obsidian as the basic reflecting surface. Over time, people began to use small pieces of gold, silver and aluminum in similar ways, both for their reflective properties and for decoration. By the 1st century AD, people had begun to use glass to make mirrors, but it was not until the European Renaissance that Venetian manufacturers began to make mirrors by applying metal backing to glass plates, which is still the most common mirror manufacturing method today. Since then, mirrors have continued to play a decorative and functional role in architecture, and despite their ancient origins, they still provide a clean, modern aesthetic. Below, we will study the method of making mirrors, briefly introduce the history of mirrors in architecture, and provide some tips for architects who wish to use mirrors in their designs.
Following the fashion of Venetian manufacturers in the early 13th century, today's typical mirrors are made by pasting a piece of glass on a thin metal backing. Although Venetian workers at the time tended to use tin, most manufacturers today use silver or aluminum. In 1835, Justus Von Leibig discovered the modern silver plating process, that is, spraying a thin layer of silver or aluminum on the back of a glass sheet. This process allows mass production of mirrors and makes the products more affordable for the general public. Modern mirror-making methods are another product of this process, which involves heating aluminum or silver to a molten state and then sputtering it onto a glass plate.
In this process, the glass plate is polished to perfection to ensure that there is no tilt or impurities, which can cause distortion of the reflected image. Similarly, the back of the mirror is usually painted to prevent damage to the metal coating. For typical household use, the architect must consider the thickness of the mirror, which increases in proportion to the strength of the mirror. For heavier applications, the mirror must be designed in a specific way according to the purpose. Generally, coatings are applied to improve durability and reflectivity.
In ancient times, most mirrors were up to eight inches in diameter and were mainly used for decoration. One notable exception, however, is the lighthouse Pharos in Alexandria, which has a huge metal mirror that reflects sunlight during the day. For centuries, this will remain one of the most famous examples of architectural mirrors in the world.
A long time later, in the late 17th century, Louis Le Vau designed the famous Versailles Hall of Mirrors, which contained 357 mirrors, challenging the Venetian’s previous economic monopoly in mirror manufacturing. Since mirrors are still rare and expensive, this combination constitutes a huge display of wealth for the French monarchy, in addition to its aesthetic function reflecting the vast outdoor garden.
Following these outstanding examples of mirrors in monumental buildings, these multifunctional elements are increasingly incorporated into relative vernacular architecture, and in Western countries, a tradition of installing mirrors on home mantels has been established. These works are housed in exquisite frames decorated with floral patterns or classical ornaments, and are mainly decorative, although the later invention of knight glass, a free-standing full-length mirror, has been seen to be used in a more practical way. At this time, French round mirrors, usually enclosed in neoclassical gilded frames, were also very popular.
With the proliferation of mirrors in neoclassical interior design, we have finally entered the modern era, and there have been more innovations in the way mirrors interact with architecture. With LED lights and a minimalist environment, functional bathroom mirrors and decorative sets now feel clean and modern compared to their carefully crafted neoclassical predecessors. Designers have ways to try unconventional shapes. The strength and durability of mirrors have been greatly improved. They can cover the surface of large furniture and even the exterior walls of buildings. With the development of new technologies that allow this flexibility, contemporary architects should consider certain suggestions on how to incorporate mirrors into their work.
Depending on the size, shape, location and decoration of the mirror, it can be used for a variety of different aesthetic and functional purposes in the architectural environment. Although architects should consider the specific details of their own projects as their primary design motivation, and should not be afraid of experimentation or innovation, we have compiled several recommendations that apply to many situations to understand how to use mirrors for design.
One of the most frequently cited uses of mirrors in design is to open up space. A large mirror can make a small room feel much larger than it actually is, especially if the mirror surrounds the entire wall and is placed in a central location, or even if it is shaped like a window to create the illusion of openness. However, to apply this technique most successfully, architects must also consider lighting. The mirror should be placed in an area that best reflects the natural light coming in from the window, making the space feel more open and bright. In the shots under the mirrors of the Lyceum University building's transformation, the large round mirrors placed in the darker corridors reflect the spatial areas with more natural light to widen the narrow corridors and make them look brighter. With white walls, the design is simple and soothing.
Mirrors must not only reflect bright areas or windows, but also highlight buildings by reflecting interesting angles or spaces. This effect may be difficult to achieve, but if done well, it can really enhance the modern space and make it appear more thoughtful. In the next bathroom from Casa Edgar St., the mirror reflects the fusion of three different colors and materials from the walls and ceiling of the room, highlighting the angularity and materiality of the design.
In order to obtain a more artistic effect, architects can use lights and shapes to create individual mirrors that dominate and beautify the space. The following circular mirrors in PandaDoc's office are illuminated by colored lights, playing a similar decorative or eye-catching role, just like hanging expensive artworks in the same place. Similarly, the unusually shaped mirror below, from MoDus Architects' House on the Hill, turns the original standard bathroom into a particularly avant-garde and modern space.
Architects can also design mirrors by combining aesthetics and function. A common example is adding personalized LED lights to bathroom mirrors: these lights are not only eye-catching, but also have the practical function of illuminating the user's face, allowing them to make makeup, fix hair or apply skin care products more precisely. Similarly, large mirrors on wardrobes and closets can help open up the space and reflect light, as mentioned above, but they can also be used as full-length mirrors for users to check their appearance and choose clothes.
Of course, these examples are only related to the internal use of mirrors. For architects who wish to experiment with mirrored exterior walls, the possibilities are also endless. Just as the internal mirror placed opposite the window can help bring the outdoors into the room, the mirrored exterior wall can also project the outdoors into the private room. For isolated structures in large natural spaces (such as forests or grasslands), this option is usually the most effective. Under these circumstances, the architect did not interrupt the beauty of the natural environment with artificial design, but let nature speak for itself. However, not all structures with mirrored exterior walls must be located in a completely natural space.
Bandesign's famous coffee shop in Gifu, Japan is surrounded by other buildings, but deliberately used mirrors to reflect the artificially planted cherry blossoms, magnifying the effect of these beautiful native trees.
The possibilities for designing with mirrors are endless. With the continuous development of technology, contemporary architects have the opportunity to conduct more experiments. Whether they are just to highlight existing structures or lead new designs, mirrors are multi-functional and potentially eye-catching elements that can elevate architecture to a new level.
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We are currently in beta and update this search regularly. We would love to hear your feedback here.
As early as 600 BC, humans began to use mirrors, using highly polished obsidian as the basic reflecting surface. Over time, people began to use small pieces of gold, silver and aluminum in similar ways, both for their reflective properties and for decoration. By the 1st century AD, people had begun to use glass to make mirrors, but it was not until the European Renaissance that Venetian manufacturers began to make mirrors by applying metal backing to glass plates, which is still the most common mirror manufacturing method today. Since then, mirrors have continued to play a decorative and functional role in architecture, and despite their ancient origins, they still provide a clean, modern aesthetic. Below, we will study the method of making mirrors, briefly introduce the history of mirrors in architecture, and provide some tips for architects who wish to use mirrors in their designs.
Following the fashion of Venetian manufacturers in the early 13th century, today's typical mirrors are made by pasting a piece of glass on a thin metal backing. Although Venetian workers at the time tended to use tin, most manufacturers today use silver or aluminum. In 1835, Justus Von Leibig discovered the modern silver plating process, that is, spraying a thin layer of silver or aluminum on the back of a glass sheet. This process allows mass production of mirrors and makes the products more affordable for the general public. Modern mirror-making methods are another product of this process, which involves heating aluminum or silver to a molten state and then sputtering it onto a glass plate.
In this process, the glass plate is polished to perfection to ensure that there is no tilt or impurities, which can cause distortion of the reflected image. Similarly, the back of the mirror is usually painted to prevent damage to the metal coating. For typical household use, the architect must consider the thickness of the mirror, which increases in proportion to the strength of the mirror. For heavier applications, the mirror must be designed in a specific way according to the purpose. Generally, coatings are applied to improve durability and reflectivity.
In ancient times, most mirrors were up to eight inches in diameter and were mainly used for decoration. One notable exception, however, is the lighthouse Pharos in Alexandria, which has a huge metal mirror that reflects sunlight during the day. For centuries, this will remain one of the most famous examples of architectural mirrors in the world.
A long time later, in the late 17th century, Louis Le Vau designed the famous Versailles Hall of Mirrors, which contained 357 mirrors, challenging the Venetian’s previous economic monopoly in mirror manufacturing. Since mirrors are still rare and expensive, this combination constitutes a huge display of wealth for the French monarchy, in addition to its aesthetic function reflecting the vast outdoor garden.
Following these outstanding examples of mirrors in monumental buildings, these multifunctional elements are increasingly incorporated into relative vernacular architecture, and in Western countries, a tradition of installing mirrors on home mantels has been established. These works are housed in exquisite frames decorated with floral patterns or classical ornaments, and are mainly decorative, although the later invention of knight glass, a free-standing full-length mirror, has been seen to be used in a more practical way. At this time, French round mirrors, usually enclosed in neoclassical gilded frames, were also very popular.
With the proliferation of mirrors in neoclassical interior design, we have finally entered the modern era, and there have been more innovations in the way mirrors interact with architecture. With LED lights and a minimalist environment, functional bathroom mirrors and decorative sets now feel clean and modern compared to their carefully crafted neoclassical predecessors. Designers have ways to try unconventional shapes. The strength and durability of mirrors have been greatly improved. They can cover the surface of large furniture and even the exterior walls of buildings. With the development of new technologies that allow this flexibility, contemporary architects should consider certain suggestions on how to incorporate mirrors into their work.
Depending on the size, shape, location and decoration of the mirror, it can be used for a variety of different aesthetic and functional purposes in the architectural environment. Although architects should consider the specific details of their own projects as their primary design motivation, and should not be afraid of experimentation or innovation, we have compiled several recommendations that apply to many situations to understand how to use mirrors for design.
One of the most frequently cited uses of mirrors in design is to open up space. A large mirror can make a small room feel much larger than it actually is, especially if the mirror surrounds the entire wall and is placed in a central location, or even if it is shaped like a window to create the illusion of openness. However, to apply this technique most successfully, architects must also consider lighting. The mirror should be placed in an area that best reflects the natural light coming in from the window, making the space feel more open and bright. In the shots under the mirrors of the Lyceum University building's transformation, the large round mirrors placed in the darker corridors reflect the spatial areas with more natural light to widen the narrow corridors and make them look brighter. With white walls, the design is simple and soothing.
Mirrors must not only reflect bright areas or windows, but also highlight buildings by reflecting interesting angles or spaces. This effect may be difficult to achieve, but if done well, it can really enhance the modern space and make it appear more thoughtful. In the next bathroom from Casa Edgar St., the mirror reflects the fusion of three different colors and materials from the walls and ceiling of the room, highlighting the angularity and materiality of the design.
In order to obtain a more artistic effect, architects can use lights and shapes to create individual mirrors that dominate and beautify the space. The following circular mirrors in PandaDoc's office are illuminated by colored lights, playing a similar decorative or eye-catching role, just like hanging expensive artworks in the same place. Similarly, the unusually shaped mirror below, from MoDus Architects' House on the Hill, turns the original standard bathroom into a particularly avant-garde and modern space.
Architects can also design mirrors by combining aesthetics and function. A common example is adding personalized LED lights to bathroom mirrors: these lights are not only eye-catching, but also have the practical function of illuminating the user's face, allowing them to make makeup, fix hair or apply skin care products more precisely. Similarly, large mirrors on wardrobes and closets can help open up the space and reflect light, as mentioned above, but they can also be used as full-length mirrors for users to check their appearance and choose clothes.
Of course, these examples are only related to the internal use of mirrors. For architects who wish to experiment with mirrored exterior walls, the possibilities are also endless. Just as the internal mirror placed opposite the window can help bring the outdoors into the room, the mirrored exterior wall can also project the outdoors into the private room. For isolated structures in large natural spaces (such as forests or grasslands), this option is usually the most effective. Under these circumstances, the architect did not interrupt the beauty of the natural environment with artificial design, but let nature speak for itself. However, not all structures with mirrored exterior walls must be located in a completely natural space.
Bandesign's famous coffee shop in Gifu, Japan is surrounded by other buildings, but deliberately used mirrors to reflect the artificially planted cherry blossoms, magnifying the effect of these beautiful native trees.
The possibilities for designing with mirrors are endless. With the continuous development of technology, contemporary architects have the opportunity to conduct more experiments. Whether they are just to highlight existing structures or lead new designs, mirrors are multi-functional and potentially eye-catching elements that can elevate architecture to a new level.
You will now receive updates based on what you care about! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices, and users.